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Days of Rage: A Pike Logan Thriller

Review

Days of Rage: A Pike Logan Thriller

America has always had enemies, but the age of terrorism has moved both her adversaries and defenders to levels of intensity never before experienced. Brad Taylor nails both sides with skill and knowledge of one who has lived to tell about it from America's perspective.

DAYS OF RAGE is the sixth book in Taylor’s Pike Logan thriller series, and it lives up to every expectation one might have for entertainment, enlightenment and excitement. While the scope of the novel covers historical events and the locations move rapidly around the globe, Taylor's writing skill keeps readers in the action and on mission. This is not an easy feat when dealing with every imaginable alphabet soup agency, from the CIA to the KGB, from Boko Haram to MOSSAD.

The characters are distinctly drawn, and Vlad the Impaler (Vladimir Malikov) will never be mistaken for Yuri Gorshenko, even though both are former KGB agents and have grown only more ruthless and determined since the fall of the Soviet Union. Similarly, the good guys (and gals) are easily remembered for their unique skills and perceptions. Although they often find themselves in perilous situations that require life or death decisions, their moral compass cannot be ignored, and the courageous way is seldom the easy way.

"DAYS OF RAGE is the sixth book in Taylor’s Pike Logan thriller series, and it lives up to every expectation one might have for entertainment, enlightenment and excitement."

Taking the reader behind today's headlines, Taylor exhibits a wide range of knowledge. Without becoming cumbersome, he provides inside information about everything from Edward Snowden's treachery to the latest in terrorist tactics. His experience in Delta Force and his service as a 21-year veteran of the U.S. Army Infantry and Special Forces lend authenticity to every aspect of the adventure. And, despite the intensity of the tasks, there is a subtle element of humor that allows the reader to exhale occasionally.

Pike Logan is a retired Delta Force commander who is now working with the Taskforce, a clandestine group of anti-terrorists whose mission it is to protect and defend the United States from its enemies. In DAYS OF RAGE, enemies are targeting America from varied and unexpected sources through strange alliances. The current plan is to draw the United States into another colossal, mind-numbing, financially disastrous entanglement like Afghanistan. A secret Russian unit is plotting to use a Nigerian terrorist organization to accomplish their ends. By providing Boko Haram with a nuclear device, the former Soviet zealots can watch America be drawn into another futile undertaking. Meanwhile, they can sit back and gloat over further damage to the country they have sworn to bury.

Without giving away too much, there is another chilling aspect to DAYS OF RAGE that makes it frighteningly real. A highly placed intelligence director is working with the Russians, feeding them classified information that endangers American operatives around the world. Anticipating this traitor's exposure is another reason why you feel compelled to read “just one more chapter” well into the night.

As many of our favorite authors pass away, we mourn not only their loss but also the loss of their characters, who no longer will provide us with hours of reading pleasure. It's been wonderful to discover that writers like Brad Taylor and Brad Thor are stepping up to provide our unquenchable need for heroes. While we will never forget Vince Flynn and Mitch Rapp, we can look forward to more of Pike Logan and Scot Harvath.

Reviewed by Maggie Harding on July 18, 2014

Days of Rage: A Pike Logan Thriller
by Brad Taylor

  • Publication Date: May 26, 2015
  • Genres: Adventure, Fiction, Suspense, Thriller
  • Paperback: 528 pages
  • Publisher: Signet
  • ISBN-10: 045146768X
  • ISBN-13: 9780451467683